Derryle Peace

Retired Director of Alumni Engagement

Derryle Peace is a Lion through and through. He is both an A&M-Commerce alumnus and a valued instructor. Before his retirement, he enjoyed a varied career, working in the nonprofit world, private sector, and academia. He is also actively involved in his local community. Peace has volunteered on the boards of several charitable organizations in the Dallas area and has been a positive role model for thousands of young people. He is active in leadership in his church and continues to serve as a connector for current students and alumni.

Education

Peace graduated from East Texas State University (now A&M-Commerce) in 1974 with a double major in psychology and sociology. He returned to earn a master’s degree in counseling in 1975.

Career

Peace worked in the nonprofit arena for more than 45 years. He served as a caseworker and halfway house superintendent for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and as a branch director for Girls, Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas. He also served as the executive director of the nation's largest “I Have A Dream Foundation” program, providing mentoring, tutoring and informal education to over 2,000 students and their families.

After his time in the nonprofit and private sectors, Peace returned to A&M-Commerce, where he served as director of Alumni Engagement for 19 years. In this role, he was instrumental in the construction of the Alumni Center and Brick Garden.

Peace is a graduate of the Commerce Leadership Institute and was a board director with the Wesley Campus Ministry. As an adjunct professor for three years, he taught undergraduate classes in counseling, focusing on domestic abuse, student development, and drug and alcohol education. Peace retired from his role as director of Alumni Engagement in May 2023.